Catherine’s Next Visit to Northanger Abbey has all the Gothic Intrigue She was Seeking!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Review Copy from Author

TYPE OF NOVEL: Sequel to Northanger Abbey

TIME FRAME: Begins a few months into Henry’s and Catherine’s first year of marriage

SYNOPSIS: The happily married Tilneys are unexpectedly invited to a masked ball at Northanger Abbey! And while their relationship with the family patriarch is far from genial, they optimistically agree to attend General Tilney’s grand masked ball on All Hallows Eve. But Henry’s reservations about his father’s intentions prove correct as General Tilney shares some shocking revelations with his children and guests…And the evening goes from shocking to horrifying real quick when someone is found dead and Henry becomes a suspect of their murder! What can Catherine do to clear her husband’s name? What happens if Henry is found guilty?

WHAT I LOVED:

• More, Yes More!: This book is already a win for me because it is a sequel to Northanger Abbey! I yearn for more Henry and Catherine, don’t you? And I love seeing more of them together! Especially when they encounter mysteries, dangerous situations, and all things gothic! I am so glad Shannon Winslow gave readers more of this delightful couple in a suspenseful sequel!

• Endearingly Ever After: Henry and Catherine are adorable together, and I loved how Shannon Winslow included some endearingly sweet scenes of their blissful and uncomplicated life together. I love Catherine’s contagious ebullience and her steadfast devotion to Henry. And I was so pleased to see Henry’s teasing playfulness and constant admiration and appreciation for Catherine. This is one happy union with whom I’d love to spend more time!

• Narrative Remarks: Similar to Northanger Abbey, Shannon Winslow has adopted Jane Austen’s style of narration for this sequel. And in addition to presenting the story in third-person limited omniscient, the narrator often addresses the reader directly with opinionated remarks and asides. This narrative technique is so playful and amusing, and Shannon Winslow employs it masterfully. Her revealing asides about Henry’s and Catherine’s affection and thoughtful pokes preparing the reader for the murder were all deftly placed. I especially enjoyed the remarks about Catherine not being a proper Gothic heroine due to her inability to faint and failure to have a wretched night sleep.

• Character Portrayals: It was lovely to encounter many of our familiar friends from Northanger Abbey in this novel, and to see them as very much what they ever were. Ms. Winslow conscientiously and skillfully matched tone, speech, and behavior to each Northanger Abbey character she reintroduced. General Tilney was appropriately mean-spirited and tyrannical, Captain Tilney – irreverent and self-serving, Eleanor – sympathetic and supportive, Henry – honorable and dutiful, and Catherine – enthusiastic and imaginative. It was interesting to witness the growth and development with some of these characters yet recognize that in some essentials they are still very much the same.

WHAT I WASN’T TOO FOND OF:

• Middle Bits: Sometimes it felt like there wasn’t enough going on in the middle of this story. After the murder takes place there is roughly 150 pages before the truth starts to be revealed and the action once again picks up. During that middle time there is a lot of gathering of information, reciting of events, interrogating, and trial proceedings. And sometimes it felt a little slowly-paced and repetitive. While I did find some of the inquest and trial scenes interesting, part of me wished for a little bit more to be going on – especially since I was able to correctly guess the murderer fairly quickly. Maybe some red herrings or other suspicious intrigues with secondary characters would have kept the reader guessing.

CONCLUSION:

What better way to enjoy this spooky season than to spend All Hallow’s Eve attending a masked ball at Northanger Abbey and stumbling onto a suspicious murder?! With Murder at Northanger Abbey, Shannon Winslow beautifully blends together satire, sweet affection, and sinister events while skillfully capturing the essence of Jane Austen’s characters, tone, and playful style. I recommend for readers who enjoy encountering “dreadful situations and horrid scenes!”

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